Do you support the RMT?

Blue Maverick said:
For anyone who works on the trains, why is there such a shortage of drivers, is it management running at a lower capacity trying to run on overtime (which people aren’t taking up) or is there a recruitment problem, I know loads from the fire service who left mainly for the wages it’s almost double a firefghters wage, tripled with overtime.
Click to expand...
It all started with privatisation of the railway in 1996. Drivers were not paid well under BR and had to work a lot of overtime to make a decent wage. When they were privatised, drivers were offered the chance to transfer to the new company or take voluntary redundancy. A lot of of drivers near retirement age took that deal.

The new Train Operating Companies, (TOCs) all started life with a staff shortage, which meant their salaries started to become very competitive and rose quickly, to entice drivers to switch.

A big recruitment drive started, (I was recruited in 1999) but has never been able to satisfy the demand. The shortfall remains and the TOCs are happy to keep staffing levels below required levels because paying overtime is always cheaper than keeping a full compliment of staff, (holiday and sick pay, pension contributions, training etc etc.)

But relying on the goodwill of drivers working their rest days is dodgy ground when those drivers get pissed off and refuse to work them. Then the service suffers as there are literally not enough drivers to run the trains.

Another point regarding recruitment is that it is a difficult job to get into. The failure rate at the initial screening process is about 75%. Then training starts and there's still a lot who dont make it. (It ain't just pressing a button.) So although the salaries may look enticing, not everyone who wants it can get it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top
✖
  AdBlock Detected
Bluemoon relies on advertising to pay our hosting fees. Please support the site by disabling your ad blocking software to help keep the forum sustainable. Thanks.